Patentable/Patents/US-11973815
US-11973815

Network assistance for uplink streaming

PublishedApril 30, 2024
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Network assistance is provided for the streaming of data from a user equipment (UE) (14) to an ingestion point (12) in a network. The network assistance may include establishing an uplink network assistance (UNA) session with a network assistance service of the network; while streaming of the data and for each segment of the data or each UNA period of the data, receiving from the network assistance service an indication of a recommended highest bit rate estimate with which the data may be streamed under current network conditions. The UE may adjust content of the data stream in accordance with the indication of the recommended highest bit rate estimation.

Patent Claims
12 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE selects a data stream configuration from an available set of capabilities to supply an uplink media stream that complies with the recommendation.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically optimizing uplink media streaming from user equipment (UE) to ensure compliance with network or application recommendations. The problem addressed is efficiently selecting an appropriate data stream configuration from a set of available capabilities to meet specified performance or quality criteria while adapting to varying network conditions. The method involves a UE receiving a recommendation for uplink media streaming, which may include parameters such as bitrate, resolution, or latency requirements. The UE evaluates its available capabilities, which may include different encoding formats, bitrates, or transmission protocols. Based on this evaluation, the UE selects a configuration that best matches the recommendation while considering current network conditions, device resources, or other constraints. The selected configuration is then used to transmit the uplink media stream, ensuring compliance with the recommendation while optimizing resource usage. The invention may also involve dynamically adjusting the selected configuration in response to changes in network conditions or device capabilities, ensuring continuous compliance with the recommendation. This approach improves media streaming efficiency and quality in wireless networks by dynamically adapting to varying conditions while meeting predefined performance targets.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network assistance service is hosted by a network element configured to provide UNA services using standard message envelopes that support network assistance under dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH), the network element being a DASH-aware network element (DANE).

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to network-assisted adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), addressing inefficiencies in content delivery by leveraging network intelligence to optimize streaming performance. The method involves a network assistance service hosted by a specialized network element, referred to as a DASH-aware network element (DANE). The DANE is configured to provide UNA (Unified Network Assistance) services using standard message envelopes, enabling dynamic adaptation of streaming parameters based on network conditions. The service enhances streaming efficiency by dynamically adjusting bitrate, buffer management, and content delivery strategies in real-time, improving user experience and reducing bandwidth waste. The DANE operates within the DASH framework, ensuring compatibility with existing protocols while introducing network-aware optimizations. This approach allows for more intelligent content delivery, reducing latency and buffering delays while adapting to fluctuating network conditions. The solution is particularly useful in scenarios where network variability impacts streaming quality, such as mobile or congested networks. By integrating network assistance directly into the streaming protocol, the invention enables more responsive and efficient content delivery compared to traditional client-side adaptation alone.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the standard message envelopes are server and network assisted DASH (SAND) message envelopes.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to a method for enhancing message delivery in a networked environment, specifically focusing on the use of server and network assisted Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) message envelopes. The method addresses the challenge of efficiently transmitting messages in a way that adapts to varying network conditions while ensuring reliable delivery. The method involves generating message envelopes that encapsulate data to be transmitted. These envelopes are designed to be compatible with DASH protocols, which are commonly used for adaptive streaming of multimedia content. By leveraging server and network assistance, the envelopes can dynamically adjust to changes in network bandwidth, latency, or other performance factors. This ensures that messages are delivered efficiently and reliably, even under fluctuating network conditions. The envelopes may include metadata that describes the content, transmission parameters, and other relevant information to facilitate adaptive delivery. The server and network components assist in optimizing the transmission path, selecting appropriate delivery protocols, and managing message prioritization. This approach improves the overall robustness and efficiency of message delivery in dynamic network environments. The method is particularly useful in scenarios where real-time or near-real-time communication is required, such as in video streaming, online gaming, or other applications where network conditions can vary significantly. By using SAND message envelopes, the system can adapt to these conditions, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a cache command from the network assistance service, caching one or more segments of the data.

Plain English Translation

A system and method for optimizing data delivery in a network environment involves a network assistance service that monitors network conditions and user device capabilities to improve data transmission efficiency. The system identifies data segments that can be preemptively cached on user devices to reduce latency and bandwidth usage. When the network assistance service issues a cache command, the system caches one or more segments of the data on the user device. This caching process is dynamically adjusted based on real-time network conditions, such as bandwidth availability, latency, and device storage capacity. The method ensures that frequently accessed or high-priority data is prioritized for caching, enhancing user experience by minimizing delays and optimizing resource utilization. The system may also track cache performance metrics to refine caching strategies over time. This approach is particularly useful in scenarios where network conditions are unpredictable or where users require seamless access to large datasets.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending multiple cached segments in bulk.

Plain English Translation

A method for optimizing data transmission in a networked system involves caching segments of data at a client device to reduce latency and bandwidth usage. The method includes receiving a request for data from a client device, identifying cached segments of the requested data stored on the client device, and transmitting the remaining uncached segments to the client device. To further improve efficiency, the method includes sending multiple cached segments in bulk, allowing the client device to reconstruct the requested data from both the locally cached segments and the newly transmitted segments. This approach minimizes redundant transmissions and reduces the overall data transfer time. The method is particularly useful in systems where network latency or bandwidth constraints would otherwise degrade performance, such as in streaming media, cloud computing, or distributed storage applications. By leveraging cached data and bulk transmission, the system ensures faster access to requested data while conserving network resources.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is authenticated to the network assistance service as part of a UNA message sent to the network assistance service as having pre-arranged authorization to be granted access to at least one of the UNA services or priority access to network bandwidth resources.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to network assistance services for user equipment (UE) in wireless communication systems. The problem addressed is ensuring secure and prioritized access to network resources for UEs that require specialized assistance, such as location-based services or bandwidth-intensive applications. The method involves authenticating a UE to a network assistance service (UNA) through a UNA message. The authentication process verifies that the UE has pre-arranged authorization, granting it access to specific UNA services or priority access to network bandwidth resources. This pre-authorization ensures that only authorized UEs can utilize these services, enhancing security and resource management. The authentication step is integrated into the UNA message, streamlining the process by combining authorization with the service request. This reduces latency and overhead compared to separate authentication procedures. The pre-arranged authorization may be established through prior agreements between the UE and the network, such as service subscriptions or contractual terms. By authenticating the UE before granting access, the system prevents unauthorized usage of UNA services or bandwidth, ensuring efficient resource allocation. This method is particularly useful in scenarios where UEs require real-time assistance, such as emergency services or high-priority applications, where delays or unauthorized access could be detrimental. The invention improves both security and performance in wireless networks by ensuring that only authorized UEs receive prioritized access to critical network resources.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the UNA message conforms to a standard message envelope to support network assistance under dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH) and one or more fields of the UNA message conveys an authentication code or security token.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to network-assisted adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), addressing the need for secure and standardized communication between clients and network elements to optimize content delivery. The method involves transmitting an UNA (Unified Network Assistance) message that adheres to a predefined standard message envelope, ensuring compatibility with DASH protocols. The UNA message includes fields that convey an authentication code or security token, enabling secure authentication and authorization between the client and network components. This allows the network to provide optimized streaming assistance, such as bandwidth estimation, content caching, or traffic prioritization, while ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the communication. The standard envelope structure ensures interoperability across different network environments, while the authentication mechanism prevents unauthorized access or tampering. The invention enhances streaming performance by leveraging network intelligence while maintaining security.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. A user equipment comprising a wireless interface and a control circuit configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

Plain English Translation

A user equipment (UE) device is designed to optimize wireless communication efficiency by dynamically adjusting its transmission parameters based on network conditions. The device includes a wireless interface for sending and receiving signals and a control circuit that manages communication operations. The control circuit is configured to monitor network conditions, such as signal strength, interference levels, and data traffic load, to determine the most efficient transmission settings. These settings may include modulation schemes, coding rates, power levels, or resource allocation strategies. By dynamically adapting these parameters, the UE can reduce power consumption, minimize interference, and improve overall network performance. The device may also prioritize critical data transmissions while deferring non-essential communications during high-load periods. This adaptive approach ensures reliable and efficient wireless communication in varying network environments, benefiting both the UE and the broader network infrastructure. The control circuit may further coordinate with network nodes to synchronize adjustments, ensuring seamless and coordinated optimization across the network. This solution addresses challenges in maintaining efficient communication in dynamic wireless environments, particularly in scenarios with fluctuating signal conditions or high user density.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the network assistance service is hosted by a network element configured to provide UNA services using standard message envelopes that support network assistance under dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) (DASH), the network element being a DASH-aware network element (DANE).

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to network-assisted adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), addressing inefficiencies in dynamic content delivery. The method involves a network assistance service hosted by a specialized network element, called a DASH-aware network element (DANE), which enhances streaming performance. The DANE uses standard message envelopes to facilitate network assistance, enabling real-time adjustments to streaming parameters based on network conditions. This includes optimizing bitrate selection, reducing buffering delays, and improving overall quality of experience (QoE) for end-users. The DANE operates within the DASH framework, ensuring compatibility with existing protocols while dynamically adapting to network fluctuations. By leveraging standard message envelopes, the solution integrates seamlessly with current streaming architectures, avoiding proprietary dependencies. The approach focuses on minimizing latency and maximizing resource utilization, particularly in environments with variable bandwidth or high user demand. The DANE's role is to act as an intermediary, analyzing network conditions and providing adaptive guidance to streaming clients and servers, ensuring efficient content delivery without requiring modifications to the core DASH protocol. This method improves streaming reliability and scalability, addressing challenges in delivering high-quality video over diverse network conditions.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the standard message envelopes are server and network assisted DASH (SAND) message envelopes.

Plain English Translation

The invention relates to a method for enhancing data transmission in a network environment, particularly focusing on improving the efficiency and reliability of Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) by using server and network-assisted message envelopes. The method addresses the challenge of optimizing content delivery in adaptive streaming systems, where varying network conditions can lead to inefficiencies in data transmission and playback quality. The method involves generating and transmitting standard message envelopes, which are specifically designed to encapsulate data packets for DASH streaming. These envelopes are server and network-assisted, meaning they are dynamically adjusted based on real-time network conditions and server capabilities to ensure optimal delivery. The envelopes may include metadata, error correction codes, or other enhancements to improve data integrity and reduce latency. By using these server and network-assisted DASH (SAND) message envelopes, the method ensures that data is transmitted in a structured and adaptive manner, allowing for seamless playback even under fluctuating network conditions. The envelopes may also facilitate better synchronization between the server and client devices, reducing buffering and improving overall user experience. The method may further include steps for monitoring network performance, adjusting envelope parameters in response to detected conditions, and ensuring compatibility with existing DASH protocols. This approach enhances the reliability and efficiency of adaptive streaming, making it suitable for applications requiring high-quality, uninterrupted content delivery.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising authenticating that the UE is eligible for UNA services or priority access to network bandwidth resources by verifying data in a UNA message received from the UE.

Plain English Translation

This invention relates to wireless communication systems, specifically methods for managing network access and bandwidth allocation for user equipment (UE) devices. The problem addressed is ensuring efficient and secure allocation of network resources, particularly for devices requiring unlicensed network access (UNA) services or priority bandwidth access. The method involves a network entity receiving a UNA message from a UE device, which includes data indicating the UE's eligibility for UNA services or priority access. The network entity then authenticates the UE by verifying the data in the UNA message. This verification process ensures that only authorized devices receive UNA services or priority bandwidth, preventing unauthorized access and optimizing network resource allocation. The authentication step may involve checking credentials, service agreements, or other eligibility criteria stored in the network or the UE. This method builds on a broader system where the network dynamically allocates bandwidth resources based on UE requirements and network conditions. The authentication step ensures that priority access is granted only to eligible devices, improving fairness and security in network resource management. The solution is particularly useful in scenarios where unlicensed spectrum is shared among multiple users or where certain devices require guaranteed bandwidth for critical applications.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before delivering data in each UNA period over the live streaming interface, the UE requesting network assistance from the network assistance service, the received indication being received in a reply to the request for network assistance.

Plain English Translation

A method for optimizing data delivery in a wireless communication system involves a user equipment (UE) device managing data transmission during unacknowledged notification (UNA) periods in a live streaming interface. The method addresses the challenge of efficiently delivering data in real-time streaming applications where timely and reliable data transmission is critical. The UE device requests network assistance from a network assistance service before delivering data in each UNA period. The network assistance service provides an indication in response to the request, which the UE uses to determine optimal data delivery parameters. This ensures that data is transmitted in a manner that minimizes latency and maximizes reliability during live streaming sessions. The network assistance service may analyze network conditions, UE capabilities, or other relevant factors to generate the indication, which guides the UE in adjusting transmission parameters such as data rate, modulation scheme, or scheduling. By dynamically requesting and utilizing network assistance, the method enhances the performance of live streaming applications in wireless networks.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

August 30, 2018

Publication Date

April 30, 2024

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Cite as: Patentable. “Network assistance for uplink streaming” (US-11973815). https://patentable.app/patents/US-11973815

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